NCW Takes Note of BJP MLA Sadhana Singh's Sexist Remarks on Mayawati

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women has questioned the objectionable statements reportedly made by BJP MLA Sadhana Singh on BSP supremo Mayawati and said it would formally issue a notice seeking an explanation from her.

According to media reports, Singh made objectionable remarks on Mayawati over an infamous episode when the BSP chief was reportedly assaulted by Samajwadi Party workers at a guest house in Lucknow in 1995 that triggered decades of animosity between the two parties.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the reports, an NCW official said the Commission will send a notice on Monday to Singh regarding the statement and seek an explanation from her.

“Such derogatory statements are unbecoming of a leader and highly condemnable. NCW has taken suo motu cognisance and will be sending a notice to Sadhana Singh tomorrow,” NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said.

Reports said Singh had slammed Mayawati for forging an alliance with Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, saying the BSP chief had “sold her dignity” for power and comfort and “is a blot on womankind”.

“I don’t think Uttar Pradesh’s former chief minister is a woman or a man. She doesn’t understand the concept of dignity. Draupadi was a victim of sexual misconduct. She vowed to get revenge. That was a self-respecting woman. Look at this woman. Everything was looted from her, despite which she sold all her dignity to get power,” ANI quoted Singh as saying.

BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra responded by saying that that the party’s alliance with the Samajwadi Party had shaken the BJP. “The language used by BJP leader Sadhana Singh against our party President Mayawati shows the level of the BJP. The level of language shows their mental illness. Such people should be admitted to the mental hospital of Agra or Bareli,” Mishra said. “This shows that BJP is disappointed and frustrated with the SP-BSP alliance. They have no strength to win even a single seat in Uttar Pradesh. The people of this country this time will show BJP its real place. They have lost their mental balance in fear of losing the election in Uttar Pradesh.”

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said that Singh had “insulted all women in the country” and showed “moral bankruptcy and hopelessness”.

Congress leaders too criticised Singh’s remarks.

“One may have differences on issues and ideas but it is disturbing: -That this lady represents the ruling party in UP-BJP (not surprising) -To hear a lady speak in such a derogatory way about another lady -To see people in the audience cheering such words,” Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted.